Chemical substance total management system, storage medium storing chemical substance management program and chemical substance total management method

ABSTRACT

A chemical substance total management system aids for reduction of release and transferring amount of managing substances in business entities. The system retrieves releasing and transferring amount record relating to predetermined managing substance on the basis of total tabulation link information with correlation between the tabulation result record managing releasing and transferring amount of managing substance per releasing and transferring destination and releasing and transferring amount record to be a source generating tabulation result record.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chemical substance total managementsystem managing chemical substances contained in materials handled bybusiness entities, a storage medium storing a chemical substancemanagement program and a chemical substance total management program.

In various materials currently commercialized, several hundreds kinds ofchemical substances having significant impact to environment arecontained. When business entities handle the materials in the processesof manufacturing, transportation, storage and so forth, it has beenrequired to know how much amount of the chemical substances is moved,how much amount of chemical substance is released to the atmosphere,soil and/or water, how much amount of chemical substance has beenprovided to the market in a form contained in the products. Therefore,the business entities have to manage the chemical substances to behandled by themselves. Hereinafter, the chemical substances to behandled by the business entities will be referred to as “managingsubstance”.

Therefore, legal system has been started to require the businessentities to report quantative data of releasing and transferring themanaging substances in factories, business offices or in businessenterprise to the country and/or the autonomous body to estimateenvironmental impact of the overall country.

The conventional data collecting system has a function for inputtingbasic data of the managing substances per division and/or process andaggregately tabulating per unit of superior organization (businessoffice, company). The reason is that as effective document, only thisresult is required.

Such prior art has been discussed in Special Edition, “EnvironmentalResource” of December, 1999.

However, since the prior art set forth above is merely designed forpreparing the effective document under the legal system, noconsideration has been given for particular method for reducingproblematic managing substance. Namely, by merely displaying or printingthe final release or transferring destination (atmosphere, water, soilor the like) of the managing substance or release and transferringamount, it cannot be known to the business entity, in which material,the managing substance is contained or in which process, the managingsubstance is handled. Therefore, the business entity may not take anyparticular measure for reducing release amount or transferring amount(hereinafter releasing and transferring amount) of the managingsubstance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a chemicalsubstance total management system aiding for reduction of release andtransferring amount of managing substances in business entities.

The present invention retrieves releasing and transferring amount recordrelating to predetermined managing substance on the basis of totaltabulation link information with correlation between the tabulationresult record managing releasing and transferring amount of managingsubstance per releasing and transferring destination and releasing andtransferring amount record to be a source generating tabulation resultrecord.

On the other hand, the present invention retrieves substancetransferring amount record relating to a predetermined process in thebasis of substance handling amount record and material handling amountrecord as a source of generation of the handling amount record, andretrieving material handling amount record relating to retrievedsubstance transferring amount record on the basis of process tabulationlink information between the releasing and transferring amount recordand substance handling amount record as a source of generation of thereleasing and transferring amount record.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management system for managing chemical substancescontained in the materials handled by business entity, comprises:

a result database storing releasing and transferring amount recordmanaging processes, in which materials are handled, managing substancescontained in the materials and releasing and transferring amount perreleasing and transferring destination of the managing substances in theprocess, with correspondence;

a retrieval processing portion retrieving the process, in whichmaterials containing a predetermined managing substance designated onthe basis of the releasing and transferring amount record, is handled,and releasing and transferring amount of the designated predeterminedmanaging substance per releasing and transferring destination in theprocess; and

a display processing portion displaying the process, in which thematerials containing the designated predetermined managing substance arehandled and releasing and transferring amount of the designatedpredetermined managing substance per the releasing and transferringdestination in the process.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management system for managing chemical substancescontained in the materials handled by business entity, comprises:

a result database storing releasing and transferring amount recordmanaging processes, in which materials are handled, managing substancescontained in the materials and releasing and transferring amount perreleasing and transferring destination of the managing substances in theprocess, with correspondence;

a releasing coefficient database storing releasing and transferringcoefficient of the managing substance in the process per releasing andtransferring designation;

an input processing portion receiving a designation of a predeterminedprocess;

a retrieval processing portion retrieving materials to be handled indesignated predetermined process and releasing and transferring amountof the managing substance in the material per releasing and transferringdestination on the basis of the material handling amount record and thesubstance handling amount record; and

a display process portion displaying materials to be handled by thedesignated predetermined process and releasing and transferring amountof the managing substance in the material per releasing and transferringdestination.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management system managing chemical substance containedin a material handled by a business entity comprises:

a total tabulation processing portion tabulating releasing andtransferring record managing process, in which materials are handled,managing substances contained in the material, releasing andtransferring amount of the managing substance in the process perreleasing and transferring destination, with correspondence, into atleast one of organization, in which the material is handled or a period,in which a period of the material is handled, to generate a tabulationresult record managing releasing and transferring amount of the managingsubstance per releasing and transferring destination, and generatingtotal tabulation link information correlating the releasing andtransferring amount record and the tabulation result record;

an input processing portion receiving a designation of the managingsubstance in the tabulation result record;

a retrieving process portion retrieving releasing and transferringamount record relating to the substance designated on the basis of thetotal tabulation link information; and

a display processing portion displaying releasing and transferringamount of the managing substance in the process per releasing andtransferring destination on the basis of retrieved releasing andtransferring amount record.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management system managing chemical substance containedin a material handled by a business entity comprises:

a process tabulation processing portion generating substance handlingamount record managing handling amount of the managing substance in aprocess on the basis of a material handling amount record managingprocess, in which materials are handled, and handling amount of thematerial in the process with correspondence, managing substancecontained in the material and content of the managing substance in thematerial, and generating a process tabulation link informationcorrelating the material handling amount record and the substancehandling amount record;

an evaluation tabulation processing portion generating releasing andtransferring amount record managing releasing and transferring amount ofthe managing substance in the process per releasing and transferringdestination on the basis of the substance handling amount record andreleasing and transferring coefficient of the managing substance in theprocess per releasing and transferring destination, and generatingevaluation tabulation link information correlating the substancehandling amount record and the releasing and transferring amount record;

a retrieval processing portion retrieving substance transferring amountrecord on the basis of the evaluation tabulation link information andretrieving material handling amount record relating to the substancetransferring amount record on the basis of the process tabulation linkinformation; and

a display processing portion displaying releasing and transferringamount of the managing substance in the material per releasing andtransferring destination on the basis of retrieved substancetransferring amount record and retrieved material handling amountrecord.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management system managing chemical substance containedin material handled by business entity, comprises:

a material handling amount record managing the process handling thematerial and handling amount of the material in the process withcorrespondence;

a substance handling amount record managing the process, managingsubstance contained in the material and handling amount of the managingsubstance in the process with correspondence;

a releasing and transferring amount record managing the process, themanaging substance and releasing and transferring amount of managingsubstance in the process per releasing and transferring destination withcorrespondence;

a tabulation result record managing at least one of organizationhandling the material or period of handling the material, the managingsubstance, and the releasing and transferring amount withcorrespondence;

an evaluation tabulation link information correlating the substancehandling amount record and the releasing and transferring amount record;and

a total tabulation link information correlating the releasing andtransferring amount record and the tabulation result record.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a recordingmedium storing a chemical substance total management program to beexecuted in a chemical substance total management system managingchemical substance contained in material handled by business entity,comprises:

reception process of receiving a designation of a redetermined managingsubstance;

retrieval process of retrieving releasing and transferring amount recordcorresponding to releasing and transferring amount per releasing andtransferring destination of the management substance in the processdesignated from the releasing and transferring amount record managingthe process handling material containing managing substance andreleasing and transferring amount of the managing substance in theprocess per releasing and transferring destination; and

displaying process displaying the process handling the materialcontaining the designated predetermined managing substance and releasingand transferring amount of the managing substance in the process perreleasing and transferring destination with correspondence on the basisof the retrieved releasing and transferring amount record.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a recordingmedium storing a chemical substance total management program to beexecuted in a chemical substance total management system managingchemical substance contained in material handled by business entity,comprises:

reception process of receiving a designation of a predetermined managingsubstance;

retrieval process retrieving material handling amount record andsubstance handling amount record corresponding to a predeterminedprocess designated from material handling amount recording managingprocess handling the material and handling amount of the material in theprocess with correspondence and substance handling amount recordmanaging the process, managing substance contained in the material inthe process with correspondence;

displaying process displaying material handled in the predeterminedprocess designated and releasing and transferring amount of the managingsubstance in process per releasing and transferring destination on thebasis of retrieved material handling amount record and retrievedsubstance handling amount record.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management method managing chemical substance containedmaterial handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown of releasingand transferring amount of managing substance per releasing andtransferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining the managing substance when name of the managing substance isdesignated on a display screen displayed name of managing substance andreleasing and transferring amount of the managing substance withcorrespondence.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management method managing chemical substance containedmaterial handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown of releasingand transferring amount of managing substance per releasing andtransferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining the managing substance when name of the process is designatedon a display screen displayed the name of process handling the materialcontaining managing substance and releasing and transferring amount ofthe managing substance in the process per releasing and transferringdestination with correspondence.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management method managing chemical substance containedmaterial handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown of releasingand transferring amount of managing substance per releasing andtransferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining the managing substance when name of the managing substance isdesignated on a display screen displaying the name of managing substanceand releasing and transferring amount of managing substance perreleasing and transferring destination with correspondence.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, a chemicalsubstance total management method managing chemical substance containedmaterial handled by business entity, displaying a breakdown of releasingand transferring amount of managing substance per releasing andtransferring destination relating to a process handling materialcontaining the managing substance when name of process is designated ona display screen displaying name of process handling material containingthe managing substance and releasing and transferring amount of managingsubstance in process per releasing and transferring destination withcorrespondence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood more fully from the detaileddescription given hereinafter and from the accompanying drawings of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, which, however, shouldnot be taken to be limitative to the invention, but are for explanationand understanding only.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of one embodiment of achemical substance total management system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual illustration showing an example of a datastructure of a database in one embodiment of the chemical substancetotal management system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual illustration showing an example of handling ofmanaging substances in one embodiment of the chemical substance totalmanagement system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a data input process in one embodiment ofthe chemical substance total management system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process tabulation process in oneembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an evaluation tabulation process in oneembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a total tabulation process in oneembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a retrieval process in one embodiment ofthe chemical substance total management system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a conceptual illustration for supplementary explanation of thetabulation process and retrieval process in one embodiment of thechemical substance total management system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing updating process in one embodiment of thechemical substance total management system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a system construction ofone embodiment of the chemical substance total management systemaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is an illustration showing a display input screen image of oneembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in detail in termsof the preferred embodiment of a chemical substance total managementsystem, a storage medium storing a chemical substance total managementprogram and a chemical substance total management method according tothe present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Inthe following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstance, well-known structure are not shown in detail in order to avoidunnecessary obscurity of the present invention.

Incorporate By Reference

Whole disclosure of co-pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. (notyet known), for CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE TOTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND CHEMICALSUBSTANCE TOTAL MANAGEMENT METHOD” filed with claiming conventionpriority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-81722, filed onMar. 17, 2000, is herein incorporated by reference.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of the preferredembodiment of a chemical substance total management system according tothe present invention.

The chemical substance total management system includes a researchprocessing portion 101, a MSDS database 102, a data input processingportion 103, a material composition database 104, a managing substancedatabase 105, a release coefficient database 106, a process tabulationprocessing portion 107, a evaluation tabulation processing portion 108,a total tabulation processing portion 109, a result database 110, aresult display processing portion 111, a retrieval processing portion112 and a risk communication aid processing portion 113.

The MSDS database 102 stores items of notandum in handling of materials,product safety data sheet (MSDS) indicative of harmful effect,correspondence to laws and rules in a form of database per material. Thematerial herewith referred to includes a raw material to charge stock ofcompleted product (e.g. rough substance, such as ore, crude oil and soforth, primary processed product, such as steel plate or the like,half-finished product, such as substrate or the like), one used forproduction of complete product (e.g. coating agent, cleaning agent,paint, cooling agent). The complete product herewith referred to isproducts which are shipped by the business entity as product, such asautomobile, camera, personal computer, film, television set, CPU, platemember, cable, clothes, foods, building, electric power, water and soforth.

The material composition database 104 stores material compositioninformation in a form of database.

One material is normally consisted of a plurality of substances, namelymolecules. For the substances (molecules), CAS (Chemical AbstractServices) number and other identifier is present. Therefore, a record ofmaterial composition database 104 is preferably consisted of a materialname, an identifier of managing substance contained in the material (forexample, name of managing substance, CAS number of the managingsubstance or the like), lower limit and upper limit of content ofmanaging substance (preferably, mass rate) in a form of field. Managingsubstances herewith referred to are substances requiring management assubstances significantly affecting for environment or its peripheralsubstance as chemical substance (first-class designated chemicalsubstance) taken as object in PRTR law (law relating to keep trackrelease amount of particular chemical substance to environment andpromoting improvement of management: Pollutant Release and TransferRegister law”) or chemical substances to be object in chemical substancemanagement guideline or environment protection guideline or the like ofstate or GDM (Government-Designated Municipalities). For example, themanaging substances herewith referred to may be toluene, xylen acid,methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), isopropanol, chromate salt, epoxy resins,methylene chloride, benzene, dimethyl zinc, acrylamide, mercury, vinylchloride or the like.

The managing substance database 105 is a database listing up themanaging substances and stores record group taking arbitrary genre(poisonous substance, deleterious substance, managing object, law andregulation defined substance, self-management substance and so forth)and identifier of corresponding managing substance as field. Themanaging substance database 105 also stores record group taking theidentifier of the managing substance and physical property as field. Asthe physical property, a coefficient in the case of converting themolecular weight into a pure metal mass weight, vapor pressure, densityand so forth are included.

A release coefficient database 106 stores records taking managingsubstances per releasing destination (atmosphere, water, soil,consumption, charged disposal, recycling, containment in product) andreleasing and transferring amount of the managing substance (preferablyratio by weight). Process herewith referred to is production process ofproduct by the business entity, inspection process of the product,development process of the product, and includes molding process,processing process, heat treatment process, painting process, washingprocess, etching process, surface treatment process, assembling processand so forth. For example, it is data representing release of 80% oftoluene as component of a paint A to atmosphere relation to charging ofthe pain A in certain painting process in the production line in certaindivision.

The research processing portion 101 has a function for retrieval offield mutually common from record group stored in the MSDS database 102,the material composition database 104, the managing substance database105, the discharge coefficient database 106 with establishingassociation, retrieval with identifier, such as name of managingsubstance, CAS number or the like, retrieval of record in partialmatching with respect to texts in the field for outputting as screenimage or file.

The result database 110 is a database storing record used by data inputprocessing portion 103, process tabulation processing portion 107,evaluation tabulation processing portion 108, total tabulationprocessing portion 109, resultant record (material handling amountrecord, substance handling amount record, release and transfer amountrecord, tabulation result record and so forth) and link informationbetween the records (process tabulation link information, evaluationtabulation link information, total tabulation link information or soforth)

The result display processing portion 111 retrieves the content of theresult database 110, reads out and displays various tabulation results.For example, the name of managing substance the CAS number of themanaging substance, releasing and transferring destination of themanaging substance per releasing and transferring destination, totalreleasing and transferring amount summed the releasing and transferringamount per releasing and transferring destination are displayed withcorrespondence, or the name of managing substance the CAS number of themanaging substance, division handled the managing substance, theprocess, in which the material containing the managing substance iscontained and annual handling amount of the managing substance in theprocess are displayed with correspondence.

The risk communication aid processing portion 113 serves not only forestablishing mutual relationship is in process of data stored in theMSDS database 102, the material composition database 104, the managingsubstance database 105 and discharge coefficient database 106 but alsofor tracing the link information in the meaning with respect to thefield of each record. In risk communication, it is important to resolvethe fear of residents relating to release of the managing substance. Itis necessary to inspect prehistory of releasing of the substance withidentifying the process or material and to establish communication withmake reference to the characteristics of the process (including heightof exhaust flue and so forth), safety data of the material. Therefore,concerning the material, the material composition data of the materialis retrieved from the material composition database 104 to output anddisplay. On the other hand, concerning the managing substance, themanaging substance data is retrieved from the managing substancedatabase 105 to output and display. On the other hand, a releasecoefficient data of the managing substance related to the process isretrieved from the release coefficient database 106 to output anddisplay. With this function, concerning inquiry relating to thereleasing and transferring data from the near neighbors and/orinterested parties, communication can be established with confidence onthe basis of reasonable data.

The storage medium (e.g. floppy disk, hard disk, memory card, memorystick, MO, PD, CD-ROM. CD-R/RW, DVD-ROM. DVD-RAM) performs researchingprocess performed by research processing portion 101, data input processto be performed by the data input processing portion 103, a processtabulation process performed by the process tabulation processingportion 107, evaluation tabulation process to be performed by theevaluation tabulation processing portion 108, total tabulation processto be performed by total tabulation processing portion 109, the resultdisplay process to be performed by the z111, the retrieval process to beperformed by retrieval processing portion 112, risk communication aidingprocess to be performed by risk communication aid processing portion113, input process to be performed by an input processing portion 114and display switching process to be performed by a display switchingportion 115, and displaying process to perform display processingportion 116, to execute the chemical substance total management system.

The storage medium (e.g. floppy disk, hard disk, memory card, memorystick, MO, PD, CD-ROM. CD-R/RW, DVD-ROM. DVD-RAM) storing the shownembodiment of the chemical substance total management program accordingto the present invention includes MSDS data stored in the MSDS database102, material composition data stored in the material compositiondatabase 104, managing substance data storing the managing substancedatabase 105, release coefficient data stored in the dischargecoefficient database 106 and result data (e.g. material handling amountrecord, the substance handling record, the releasing and transferringamount record, tabulation result record, process tabulation linkinformation, the evaluation tabulation link information, totaltabulation link information.

FIG. 2 shows an example of data structure of the database in the shownembodiment of the present invention. In the material compositiondatabase 104, data establishing correspondence between the CAS number ofthe managing substance contained in the material and upper limit andlower limit of the content of the managing substance (preferably, Wt %)is stored per material with taking the material as key index. Asmaterial name, tradename or product number upon purchased by thebusiness entity may be used. However, any identification uniquelydetermined code system may be used.

The managing substance database 105 stores the managing substance data,such as data of correspondence between the managing substance and thecorporate body by which the managing substance is designated andphysical property of the managing substance with taking the CAS numberof the managing substance as key index. The physical property herewithreferred to is property of the managing substance, such as molecularweight, melting point, boiling point, vapor pressure, water solubility,specific weight and so forth.

The release coefficient database 106 stores the release data which isdata, in which the managing substance handled in the process, releasingand transferring destination of the managing substance and the releasecoefficient of the managing substance are corresponded with taking theprocess of the business entity as key index. The release coefficient ofthe managing substance is releasing and transferring ratio (preferably,weight ratio) per releasing and transferring destination of the managingsubstance.

In the MSDS database 102, data including chemical name of the managingsubstance, English name, CAS number, description, raw material, price,preparation method, application, packaging type, notandum in handlingthe managing substance, toxic effect, applicable law and regulation andso forth is stored with taking the MSDS data, namely managing substanceor material as key index.

FIG. 3 shows an example of handling of the managing substance in theshown embodiment of the present invention. Discussion will be given inorder of numbers given in FIG. 3.

The shown example is started in purchasing the paint A as material(procedure {circle around (1)}). A purchase amount of the paint A is 100m³/month, a storage amount in a tank is typically constant. Therefore, ahandling amount in the process is premised as 100 m³/month, similarly.AS density of the paint A is 1200 kg/m³, handling amount thereof is120000 kg/month. All amount of the paint A is put into a paintingprocess (procedure {circle around (2)}). Process up to here isimplemented by the data input processing portion 103.

Next, it can be read out the material composition database 104 that thepaint A contains 30% of toluene and 1% of cadmium. Therefore, handlingamount of the managing substance in the paining process is derived as36000 kg/month of toluene and 1200 kg/month of cadmium. This calculationis performed by the process tabulation processing portion 107.

Next, in the paining process, painting for the shipping product isperformed for applying the paint by spray is performed. During thisprocess, a part of the paint is dried and released to the atmosphere(procedure {circle around (3)}). Releasing rate to the atmosphere of 94%of toluene and 0% of cadmium can be read from the discharge coefficientdatabase 106. Therefore, it can be evaluated that 33840 kg of toluene isreleased to the atmosphere every month. Similarly, as industrial waste(procedure {circle around (4)}), 1800 kg of toluene and 120 kg ofcadmium are disposed per month. It is also evaluated that 360 kg oftoluene and 1080 kg of cadmium are contained in the shipping product.These evaluation is implemented by the evaluation tabulation processingportion 108.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing data input process in the shown embodimentof the present invention.

In the data input processing portion 103, data input process isperformed. The data input process includes a reading process 2 a, a dateidentification process 2 b, a mass weight identification process 2 c, aprocess identification process 2 d and a storing process 2 e.

In the data input process, charging of the material and purchasing ofthe material are read from the material management record, such asmaterial purchasing document, stock control document and so forth. Here,as one example, as the material management record, charge record of thematerial to the process is read out (read process 2 a). From the record,date is identified (date identifying process 2 b). Since the purchaserecord inherently includes data field representative of date data withdominical year or Japanese year, the date data is converted into datedata with dominical year. Next, mass weight of the material isidentified (mass weight identification process 2 c). Thereafter, usingan orderer name or the like, process, in which the material is handled,is identified (process identification process 2 d). These series ofresult data is stored in the result data base 110 as process handlingamount record (storing process 2 e). On the other hand, data input linkinformation as link information correlating the material handling amountrecord as result record ands the material management record as originalrecord for obtaining the result record is also stored in the resultdatabase 110 (storing process 2 e).

The link information is information for correlation of the data recordand the result record in the case where the data record (original data)preliminarily present in the processing portion (data input processingportion 103, process tabulation processing portion 107, evaluationtabulation processing portion 108, total tabulation processing portion109) is read out, processed by information process, arithmetic processortabulation process to generate new data record (result record). In caseof one-to-one relationship, correlation can be realized by adding pointto one of two records. If both of records are plural and N-to-Nrelationship is established, pointers to all of the result records areadded to the original records, and pointers to all original records areadded to the result records. In the alternative, relationship betweenthe original records and the result records may be established in a formof table.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process tabulation process in the shownembodiment.

In the process tabulation process portion 107, process tabulationprocess is performed. The process tabulation process includes a read outprocess 5 a, a conversion process 5 b and a storing process 5 c.

At first, mass weight charged to the process is read out from theprocess tabulation process handling amount record stored in the resultdatabase 110 (read out process 5 a). Next, from the material compositiondata stored in the material composition database 104, the managingsubstance contained in the material is retrieved. Then, conversion isperformed to convert into the handling amount per managing substance(conversion process 5 b). By managing the handling amount of thematerial in mass weight (kg) and managing the content of the managingsubstance contained in the material in percent by mass, the handlingamount of the managing substance can be obtained in mass weight (kg) bymultiplying the mass weight (kg) of the handling amount of the materialby the content of the managing substance contained in the material.Finally, the process tabulation link information as the link informationbetween the substance handling amount record as the result record andthe process handling record and the material composition record asoriginal record, is also stored in the result database 110 (storingprocess 5 c).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the evaluation tabulation process in the shownembodiment of the present invention.

In the evaluation tabulation processing portion 108, evaluationtabulation process is performed. The evaluation tabulation processincludes a reading process 6 a, 6 b and 6 c, a calculation process 6 dand a storing process 6 e.

The mass weight per managing substance charged to the process from thesubstance handling amount record stored in the result database 110 (readout process 6 a). Next, the releasing and transferring coefficient ofthe managing substance in the process is read out from the releasecoefficient data stored in the release coefficient database (read outprocess 6 b). The physical property of the managing substance(conversion coefficient and so forth) is read out from the managingsubstance data stored in the managing substance database 105 (read outprocess 6 c). Next, releasing amount of the managing data to atmosphere,water, or soul in the process, transfer amount to the product, andtransfer amount as waste are calculated (calculation process 6 d). Sincethe releasing and transferring coefficient is a value indicative of aratio between a handling amount of the managing substance in the processand releasing and transferring amount of the managing substance in theprocess, the releasing and transferring amount of the managing substanceper releasing and transferring destination can be calculated bymultiplying the handling amount of the managing substance by thereleasing and transferring coefficient. When the substance is metalsalt, pure metal element as released or transferred managing substanceis required. In this case, using the physical property data of themanaging substance, the mass weight of the pure metal element is derivedthrough conversion. Finally, the evaluation tabulation link informationas link information between the releasing and transferring amount recordas the result record and the substance handling amount record and therelease coefficient record as original records, is stored in the resultdatabase 110 (storing process 6 e).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a total tabulation process in the shownembodiment of the present invention.

In the total tabulation processing portion 109, total tabulation processis performed. The total tabulation process includes a processidentification process 7 a, a read out process 7 b, a read out process 7c, a tabulation process 7 d and a storing process 7 e.

At first, a process group corresponding to designated tabulation range(for example, workplace, division, section, line, process step, businessoffice, business group, area and so forth), is identified (processidentification process 7 a). Then, the releasing and transferring amountrecord of the process group in the designated period (e.g. from Apr. 1,1999 to May 31, 1999 (is read out from the result database (read outprocess 7 b). Furthermore, only releasing and transferring amount recordof the designated managing substance group (for example, designatedsubstances of Environment Agency (Japan)) is taken out (read out process7 c). These records are tabulated (tabulation process 7 d). It should benoted that the designation of the tabulation range, the designation ofthe period and the designation of the managing substance group areperformed by the research processing portion 101. Finally, a totaltabulation link information as the link information between thetabulation result record as the result record and the releasing andtransferring amount record as original data, is stored in the resultdatabase (storing process 7 e).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a retrieval process in the shown embodiment ofthe present invention.

In the retrieval processing portion 112, retrieval process is performed.The retrieval process serves as reverse tracing function and includes afirst reception process 8 a performing a first stage retrieval process,a first retrieval process 8 b, a first display process 8 c, a secondreception process 8 d performing a second stage retrieval process, asecond retrieval process 8 e, a second display process 8 f, a thirdinput process 8 g performing a third stage retrieval process, a thirdretrieval process 8 h and a third display process 8 i. It should benoted that three retrieval processes, i.e. the first stage retrievalprocess, the second stage retrieval process and the third stageretrieval process are not essential and at least one of the retrievalprocess will be sufficient. It can be only first stage retrievalprocess, the second stage retrieval process or the third stage retrievalprocess. Also, only two retrieval processes would be sufficient. It canbe the first and second stage retrieval processes.

At first, selection of the tabulation result record on an output displayimage by the operator results in reception of designation of the firststage retrieval process (first reception process 8 a). From the resultdatabase 110, the releasing and transferring amount record of theprocess to be a source of tabulation of the tabulation result record isretrieved by tracing the total tabulation link information (firstretrieval process 8 b). A plurality of retrieved releasing andtransferring amount record is output on the display (first displayprocess 8 c).

Next, selection of one of the records among a plurality of releasing andtransferring amount record on the output display image by the operatorresults in reception of designation of the second stage retrievalprocess (second reception process 8 d). Then, the substance handlingamount record as a source of generation of the releasing andtransferring amount record designated from the result database 110, isretrieved by tracing the evaluation tabulation link information (secondretrieval process 8 e). A plurality of retrieved substance handlingamount record is output for displaying (second displaying process 8 f).

Selection of one of the records among a plurality of substance handlingrecords on the output display image by the operator results in receptionof designation of the third stage retrieval process (third input process8 g). The material handing amount record as a source of generation ofthe substance handling amount record designated from the result database110, by tracing the process tabulation link information (third retrievalprocess 8 h). A plurality of selected material handling amount record isoutput displayed and material order code, orderer code and so forth arealso retrieved for outputting on the display (third display process 8i). The display process of the supplementary information is preferred inthe shown embodiment of the system but can be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual illustration for supplementary explanation of thetabulation process and the retrieval process in the shown embodiment ofthe present invention.

Five kinds of records, i.e. material management record, the materialhandling amount record, the substance handling amount record, thereleasing and transferring amount record and the tabulation resultrecord, are processed or generated in the shown system. The flow shownby the arrow on left side is normal operation process, namely data inputprocess, the process tabulation process, the evaluation tabulationprocess and total tabulation process. On the other hand, the arrow inwavy line on the right side shows retrieval process using the linkinformation in each record as primary feature of the present invention,i.e. the first retrieval process, the second retrieval process, thethird retrieval process and the supplementary information retrievingprocess.

In FIG. 9, it appears that one record is generated from one record.However, it is possible that a plurality of records are generated fromone record, and that one record is generated from a plurality ofrecords. Therefore, the relationship is N-to-N relationship, basically.While it is not required in merely preparing a legal notificationdocument, it is necessary to store a record to be an intermediate courseshown in FIG. 9 for implementing the retrieval process. In this case, asnew problem, needs to re-generate new records with new condition witherasing existing past record, is caused. For example, in the past,composition information of the material (managing substances containedin the material and contents of the managing substances) are indefinite,definite composition information is obtained recently. At this time,updating process to erase all of corresponding records by designating arange, such as particular period or particular material and to performre-calculation in new condition.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing updating process in the shown embodimentof the present invention.

In an updating processing portion (not shown), updating process isperformed. The updating process includes an input process 10 a, anerasure process 10 b and a re-calculation process 11 c. The updatingprocess is preferred to be included in the shown system but is notessential for the shown system.

At first, one of the covered period for erasure, covered process forerasure, covered substance for erasure and combination thereof are inputto determine a range of records to be erased (input process 10 a). Then,material handling amount record, the substance handling amount record,the releasing and transferring amount record and the tabulation resultrecord are erased in the designated range (erasure process 10 b).

Finally, on the basis of new information, re-calculation is performedrelating to the rYerased record (re-calculation process 11 c).

FIG. 11 shows an example of a system construction of the shownembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention.

A dedicated server computer 1101 is installed in a general managingdivision to include all database and processing portions shown in FIG.1. By connecting the dedicated server computer 1101 to a corporatenetwork or intranet 1102, terminal computers 1103 at various factories,business offices and so forth in the corporation are enabled to use allfunctions. On the other hand, by placing the database shown in FIG. 1 ina general purpose data providing site 1105 outside of the corporationand connecting to the site 1105 through an internet 1104, it becomespossible to effectively use wide range data which cannot be stored inthe dedicated server computer, or frequently updated data. It ispreferred to distribute the MSDS data, the material composition data,the managing substance data and the releasing coefficient data to thededicated server computer 1101 via the internet 1104 and the corporatenetwork or the intranet 1102 for updating.

FIG. 12 shows an example of an input screen image of the shownembodiment of the chemical substance total management system accordingto the present invention.

At first, in the first input screen image 12 a, data of the tabulationresult record relating to “Abc business office” designated asorganization of the tabulation range is output for displaying. While theshown result displays releasing and transferring amount relating tothree managing substances of “toluene”, “arsenic” and “phenol”. Whenretrieval process is commanded designating “toluene” among threemanaging substances, for example, the second input screen 12 b appearsas the result of retrieval and breakdown of value in the line of“toluene” is output to display in connection with the process, In thesecond input screen image, under the condition “releasing andtransferring of toluene in Abc business office”, the breakdown isdivided per each process of “painting”, “washing” and “surfacetreatment”. A total of the values in respective releasing and transferitems matches with the value on the first input screen image. Namely, inthe second input screen image 12 a, data extracted from the releasingand transferring amount record relating to the designated tabulationresult record, is output for displaying.

Furthermore, in the second input screen image 12 b, if retrieval processis designated commanding “painting”, a third input screen image 12 cappears. The breakdown of the value in the line of “paining” is outputfor displaying in relation to the material. In the third input screenimage 12 c, under a condition “releasing and transferring of toluene inpainting process of Abc business office”. The breakdown is made permaterial of “Alpha paint” and “Beta diluent”. Total of the values inrespective items of releasing and transferring destination matches withthe value on the second input screen image 12 b. Namely, in the thirdinput screen image 12 c, the extracted data from the substance handlingamount record and the material handling amount record relating to thedesignated releasing and transferring amount record, is output fordisplaying. Both records are generated by continuously performing thesecond retrieval process and the third retrieval process among retrievalprocesses.

Furthermore, in the third input screen image 12 c, when the retrievalprocess is commanded by designating the “Alpha paint”, the fourth inputscreen image 12 d appears to display information relating to chargerecord of “Alpha paint” on an output screen image. There is shown rawinformation, such as purchase document and stock management document isdisplayed. Namely, in the fourth input screen image 12 d, data extractedfrom the material management record relating to the designated materialhandling amount record is output for displaying.

As a breakdown of the tabulation result, the releasing and transferringamount per the releasing and transferring destination of the managingsubstance in the process and the releasing and transferring amount perthe releasing and transferring destination of the managing substance inthe material have particularly important meaning. Therefore, breakdownper process, namely, data extracted from the releasing and transferringamount record may be preliminarily displayed to designate one linethereof to designate the retrieval process for displaying output ofbreakdown per material and namely displaying output of data extractedfrom the substance handling amount record and the material handlingamount record.

With the shown embodiment of the present invention constructed as setforth above the breakdown of the releasing and transferring amount perthe releasing and transferring destination of the managing substance,namely, the process, in which the managing substance is handled and thereleasing and transferring amount per releasing and transferringdestination of the managing substance in the process may be identified,or the material, in which the managing substance is contained and thereleasing and transferring amount per releasing and transferringdestination of the managing substance in the material may be identifiedto aid for management and reduction of the managing substance by thebusiness entity.

On the other hand, with the shown embodiment of the present invention,when the process, in which the managing substance is handled and thereleasing and transferring amount per releasing and transferringdestination of the managing substance in the process may be identified,or, or the material, in which the managing substance is contained andthe releasing and transferring amount per releasing and transferringdestination of the managing substance in the material may be identified,for retrieving the original record from the result record on the basisof the link information, identification of the process, in which themanaging substance is handled and the releasing and transferring amountper releasing and transferring destination of the managing substance inthe process, or, or identification of the material, in which themanaging substance is contained and the releasing and transferringamount per releasing and transferring destination of the managingsubstance in the material, can be speeded up. Since retrieval has to beperformed against huge amount of records, if retrieval is performed bykeyword or the like, significant period is required, and difficulty iscaused in obtaining breakdown of the releasing and transferring amountper releasing and transferring designation of the managing substance.

Also, in the shown embodiment of the present invention, since linkinformation is generated upon generation of the result record,preparation of identification of the process, in which the managingsubstance is handled and the releasing and transferring amount perreleasing and transferring destination of the managing substance in theprocess, or identification of the material, in which the managingsubstance is contained and the releasing and transferring amount perreleasing and transferring destination of the managing substance in thematerial, namely preparation of the link information is not necessary tobe performed by the business entity. Particularly, the present inventioncan dynamically adapted to variation of the material to be handled bythe business entity or variation of the managing substance required formanagement by the business entity by automatically preparing the linkinformation.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described withrespect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes,omission and additions may be made therein and thereto, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore,the present invention should not be understood as limited to thespecific embodiment set out above but to include all possibleembodiments which can be embodied within a scope encompassed andequivalent thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chemical substance total management systemwhich tabulates a releasing and transferring amount of chemicalsubstances contained in materials handled by a business entity, for eachreleasing and transferring destination and outputs the results,comprising: a database, storing: releasing and transferring amountrecords for a process in which materials are handled, managingsubstances contained in said materials, and releasing and transferringamounts of said managing substances, for each releasing and transferringdestination of said managing substances in said process; and a retrievalprocess portion retrieving, on the basis of said releasing andtransferring amount records stored in said database, the process bymeans of which materials containing the managing substance selected byan operator are handled, and the releasing and transferring amounts ofsaid managing substance for each releasing and transferring destinationin said process, and outputting the results.
 2. The chemical substancetotal management system according to claim 1, wherein said database is aresult database storing result records including: plural releasing andtransferring amount records of processes in which materials containingmanaging substances are handled, and corresponding releasing andtransferring amounts for each releasing and transferring destination ofsaid managing substances in said processes, said result records obtainedon the basis of a managing substance handling amount and a releasing andtransferring coefficient for each of said processes; plural tabulationresult records obtained by tabulating releasing and transferring recordsof the designated managing substances, referring to said releasing andtransferring amount records as original records; and link informationwhich associates the tabulation result record with said originalreleasing and transferring record used to make up the tabulation resultrecord, and wherein said retrieval processing portion retrieves one ofsaid original releasing and transferring records used to make up thetabulation result record of the managing substances selected by theoperator from said plural tabulation result records in said resultdatabase, and output the results.
 3. A chemical substance totalmanagement system which tabulates releasing and transferring amount perreleasing and transferring destination of chemical substances containedin the materials handled throughout a business entity, comprising: adatabase storing: (A) plural material handling records for processes inwhich materials are handled, and corresponding material handling amountsfor the processes, (B) plural managing substance handling amount recordsfor said processes including corresponding managing substances containedin said materials and a handling amount of said managing substances usedin said processes, and (C) plural releasing and transferring amountrecords for the processes in which mateials are handled includingmanaging substances contained in said materials and a releasing andtransferring amount for each releasing and transferring destination ofsaid managing substances, said records forming result records obtainedon the basis of said managing substance handling amount in said managingsubstance handling amount records and corresponding releasing andtranferring coefficients of the managing substances in each process inwhich the materials containing the managing substances are handled; anda retrieval processing portion retrieving the managing substancehandling amount record and the material handling amount record used tomake up the releasing and transferring amount records in a processselected by the operator from said database, and outputting saidselected process, materials handled in said selected process and areleasing and transferring amount for each releasing and transferringdestination of said managing substances in the materials.
 4. Thechemical substance total management system according to claim 3, whereinsaid database stores link information which associates each materialhandling amount record with a corresponding releasing and transferringamount record, and link information which associates each managingsubstance handling amount record with a corresponding releasing andtransferring amount record, and wherein said retrieval processingportion retrieves said original managing substance handling amountrecord used to make up the releasing and transferring amount record inthe process selected by the operator from said plural releasing andtransferring amount records and said material handling amount recordassociated with the managing substance handling record by using saidresult database on the basis of said link information, and outputs saidselected process, materials handled in said selected process and areleasing and transferring amount for each releasing and transferringdestination of said managing substances in the materials.